[[1 Samuel 22|<< 1 Samuel 22]] | [[1 Samuel|1 Samuel]] | [[1 Samuel 24|1 Samuel 24 >>]] ### 1 Samuel 23 1 THEN they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. ^1 2 Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. ^2 3 And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? ^3 4 Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand. ^4 5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. ^5 6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, _that_ he came down _with_ an ephod in his hand. ^6 7 ¶ And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God has delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that has gates and bars. ^7 8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. ^8 9 ¶ And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. ^9 10 Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. ^10 11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down. ^11 12 Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver _thee_ up. ^12 13 ¶ Then David and his men, _which_ _were_ about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbore to go forth. ^13 14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand. ^14 15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David _was_ in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. ^15 16 ¶ And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. ^16 17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knows. ^17 18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house. ^18 19 ¶ Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which _is_ on the south of Jeshimon? ^19 20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part _shall_ _be_ to deliver him into the king's hand. ^20 21 And Saul said, Blessed _be_ ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me. ^21 22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, _and_ who has seen him there: for it is told me _that_ he deals very subtilly. ^22 23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah. ^23 24 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men _were_ in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. ^24 25 Saul also and his men went to seek _him_. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard _that_, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. ^25 26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them. ^26 27 ¶ But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. ^27 28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth. ^28 29 ¶ And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi. ^29